Boston – One city, two faces

ILLUSTRATION CRISTÓBAL SCHMAL

Sedate, educated and intellectual it may be, but Boston is not necessarily the most exciting U.S. metropolis. Still, the capital of the New England state of Massachusetts does have its wild, crazy, frivolous moments. We take a look at both sides.

Insightful

Embark on a journey to the center of the earth: The Mapparium, a walk-through globe three stories high, opens up new perspectives on our planet.

Science show

Some of the world’s most brilliant minds are hard at work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The MIT Museum exhibits some of their findings – fascinating.

Fine prospect

Study, do research – and take in the skyline: There’s no better panoramic view of Boston’s skyline to be had than from the roof of the library at Tufts University.

Rubble Rousers

At Restoration Resources, all manner of architectural artifacts, ornaments and statues are rescued, upcycled and dedicated to a new purpose.

He’s alive

Don’t just look, please touch the life-size, movable dinosaur at the Boston Children’s Museum, which brings the world playfully within young peoples’ grasp.

Time travel

The four-kilometer Freedom Trail takes history fans on a leisurely stroll through old Boston. It includes 16 historical attractions.

Sneaky

What looks like an iced tea dispenser is really a secret door leading into the ultracool sneaker store Bodega. Shoe fetishists, rejoice!

Higher Endeavors

Brooklyn Boulders is a climbing gym like any other except that here, you can also see art, listen to live music and learn stuff in TED talks.

Wet! Wetter! Wettest!

Taking a tour of Boston Harbor by boat sounds relaxing, right? Not aboard the monster speed boat Codzilla, where a good soaking is the order of the day.

Cool cliché

Embarrassing? Romantic? Undeniably unforgettable: a trip down the Charles River in a Venetian gondola. Off into the sunset you go!

Crafty

Building robots, making jewelry, repairing bikes – skills of all kinds, some more useful than others, are taught in workshops at Artisan’s Asylum.

An art in itself

The 500 artworks exhibited at The Museum of Bad Art are well meant but sadly not well done. How did they come to be shown? They are simply too bad to ignore.